Review of: San Antonio 116, Sonics 101

Well if you haven’t figured out by now, this is going to be a rebuilding year for the Sonics, a year in which they have to learn how to win and will show great potential against some of the NBA’s better teams and then look ragged against some of the league’s mediocre clubs.

Believe it not, the Sonics played one of their better games of the season Sunday against the Spurs and still lost by 15 because they didn’t score for the final 2:16 of the game. In their most pathetic outing of the year, last Monday against Memphis, they lost by 17.

The Sonics have to learn how to make plays, the little ones. They shot well enough to win, limited the Spurs’ 3-point shooting in the second half, played decently against Tim Duncan and didn’t let Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili really go off, but they lost on the small things. Offensive rebounding. Empty possessions. Turnovers. Forced shots. They all plagued the Sonics and they have to learn to execute better down the stretch and also start better in the second half.

The Sonics seemed so happy to be tied at halftime, they sleptwalked through the third quarter, getting outscored 12-0 to start the period and that essentially was the game. The Sonics don’t deal with success very well and if they played with the same intensity to start the second half as they did in the first half, we might be talking about a victory.

Seattle needs to get completely healthy and it needs a victory, but it will be hard pressed to win Tuesday against the Lakers or Wednesday against the blazing hot Orlando Magic.

But the team is playing better and more consistently, but what we are seeing is the growing pains of a young team and the NBA is an unforgiving league and if you slip even the least bit, good teams are going to take advantage. The Sonics slipped to begin the second half and it cost them dearly.

SONICS REPORT CARD

Earl Watson — Two assists in 20 minutes but he managed 10 shots in that span, too much shooting and not enough passing — C-

Kevin Durant — Took better shots, played menacing defense against Manu Ginobili and also pulled down six rebounds with four assists — B+

Chris Wilcox — 16 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes on a gimpy ankle, he put forth a maximum effort — B

Damien Wilkins — Was unusually hesitant to shoot and also didn’t rebound or play his usual strong defense — C-

Kurt Thomas — The Sonics are a better team with him on the floor and he needed to shoot more (3 shots in 25 minutes) — C+

Wally Szczerbiak — Was lighting it up from outside, took quality shots and was active in the Sonics zone defense. This was good Wally — A-

Delonte West — Needs to be more fierce when going to the rim in order to draw fouls and needs to run the offense better in the fourth quarter — C+

Jeff Green — There are some nights when Green is good and other nights he struggle, tonight was the latter — C

Nick Collison — Never got into the flow of the game, hence just 15 minutes on the court — C

Mickael Gelabale — One rebound in seven minutes, needs more time on the court — INC